Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-05-28
Florence was drumming her

him play upon his VlOiln!" ASKED
Dick, glancing slyly at Martin as
5Eif'sElle were starting game. AL
IaWaited Atwood's answer with a
certain degree ofinterest..
lhave not used my violin since
lI came here. will nnpack it, and
Eff none-of the strings are broken,
EI will play" said Atwood; and he
.I.rose quietly and went out of the
broom.
4 allow could you say that, Dickf
l;He probably plays execrably," said
miss Jeanette Manchester, Dicks
SISTER.
aInever knew a country bump
kan who hadn't a fantasy for fid-
J75dle,,, said Martin. There, he's
coming back! Nnwsif.;Iny one has
4 Fast;dionss musical sensibilities, Ed
itsigise him to decamp.''
st shall stay" answered Dick.
fsWe'll all stay and see the filn,"
said Grove, sitting down by Miss
Castlet0n.
David came in. began to I'M
fderstand what was coming as he
! bent his head over.the violin ard
drew the bow lightly across the
strings. In a moment he glided
softly into an air of Verdi's, so
light and graceful that it was like
the fall Of sea spray. Every eye
and ear was given in rapt atten5ioM
some in delight, some in troubled
doubt, us if they could not believe
their own senses, some in spleen or
envy, and all in amazement. As
tonishment was the prevailing
emotion.
When he had finished the opera
iiir, he asked:
lis there any tune you would
particularly lile?p and he glanced
toward the side of the room where
Florence Castleton sat, rather than
at Dick and Martin.
"Will you play the phantom
Chorus from sFDtlSl'9 asked Flor
ence; and the mild, sweet tones
came forth obediently, in beautiful
perfection. Air followed air. The
company sAt spell bound until snil
denly the revealed musician laid
down his bow. A chorus of eulogiStic
phrases and expressions Of graft
tude followed, but David Atwood
smiled only at Florence Castleton's
simple remark:
"We thank y0u!"
BE left the room. A little while
after. went through the hall and
met him.
"You have surprised and delight
ed us all with Your performance,
Mr.. Atwood, l said.
He smiled.
II learned to play to please a lit
tie sick sister | had once, he an
swered. "Since she died, do not
GfaresssoEplay much, althonglsI-love
innsic.n
Just then Florence Castleton fit
ted by and went up the stairs.
Thought she had heard what he
said.
"Do you think she liked it?' he
said, with amusing simplicity and
directness.
:.Yes, am sure she did," L an
s-.rrel.
"She's pretty;isn't shei" said he,
with the same amusing naivete.
eyes," l answered.
He sighed.
s.Good night" I said.
"Good.night," he responded, and
went into his room.
l smiled ut my thoughts as | let
down my hair before my dressing
glass. Yet it might prove hardly
a smiling matter for poor honest
fellow like David Atwood to get in
love with Florence Castleton, the
beauty and heiress.
II soon became perceptible to all
observing people, how much David
Atwood was in love with Miss
Castleton. She OWNED it swiftly,
, and thought it did not displease
her The others rallied her, but
she put off their jests lightly, and
was none the worse for them. Poor
David did not address her; he
couhl hardly summon courage to
APPROACH her when necessary; aud
it WIS altogether beyond his plain,
passionate heart 10 disguise his
seniitiveness in regard to her
presence.
II would turn pale every time
she spoke to him, and once when
he brought her chair in all awk-
ward hurry, saw him tremble like
IL leaf under her beautiful eyes
TheS were together that evening,
with three or four others IN the par
lor.
sMiss Castleton,n said a pretty
littleischool girl, who dolizel Flor
encef for her beauty, after the man.
of school girls. ''your eyes are just
the color OF the water off Halt
moon beach, where l saw it last
summer.
Miss Castleton laughed.
aTley are like summer Skies"
said Charley Childs.
II swear that they are just like
the binding of Owen Merideth, in
blue and gold,' said Dick Manches
ter.
aAnd what is your comparison,
Dir. Atwoodp said Florence, look
ing up archly at David.
His answer was involuntary: